Pierced earring locking and holding system

ABSTRACT

A pierced earring holding and locking system is provided that securely retains the locking system in both locked and unlocked configurations by providing an engagement mechanism in the body of the locking system, such as a spring or interlocking surface projections and depressions. The body of the locking system may include a shaft, arms extending from the shaft, and a recess formed between the arms. A locking bar is pivotally engaged with the body section and movable between a first position with the locking bar substantially parallel to the shaft, and a second position with the locking bar substantially perpendicular to the shaft. The body section further may include a spring biased towards the locking bar, the spring being compressed by the locking bar when the locking bar is in the first position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/691,533 filed Mar. 10, 2022, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/207,579 filed Mar. 10, 2021, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Through the many years in which earrings have been used and have been fashioned in various configurations, depending upon the particular style and taste of the period, there have only been two basic earring configurations developed.

One configuration, with which this application is not concerned, is the clip-on type earring. The second category of earrings is the pierced ear type, and represents earring type to which this application is directed.

Although pierced earrings have been used for many years, little change or innovative variation has been realized in the systems used to securely mount the earring in the pierced ear of the user. The typical configuration found in pierced earrings is a solid, elongated shaft or stem, to which the particular decorative portion of the earring is secured, with a locking mount or a holding nut slidably engageable along the elongated shaft for attachment thereto. Although various alternative constructions for the holding nut of this common type of pierced earring has been developed through the years, all of these holding nuts suffer from common deficiencies.

Initially, these prior art holding nuts were threadedly engaged with the shaft, thereby requiring mating threads in the holding nut and along the shaft of the pierced earring. Such a system is typified by U.S. Pat. No. 799,056.

This construction suffered from many drawbacks, principally fabrication difficulties and expense to achieve the threaded construction, as well as difficulty of quick and convenient assembly by the user. Since secure engagement of the earring could only be obtained by engaging, with threading, the locking nut with the threaded shaft of the pierced earring, some expert degree of manipulation and handling was required in order to achieve the threaded engagement of the locking nut on the shaft.

In order to eliminate the necessity of threaded shafts and threaded lock nuts, a straight elongated shaft and slidable lock nut was developed. In this construction, the lock nut slidably engages the elongated shaft and is advanced along the shaft until securely engaging the shaft near the rear of the user's earlobe, maintaining the earring in its locked position.

Initially, these slidable lock nuts are effective but, after continuous use, the shaft engaging and holding portion formed in the lock nut begins to wear, causing undesirable slippage of the lock nut while mounted in place. As a result, after these lock nuts have been used, undesirable and unwanted detachment of the lock nut from the shaft occurs, resulting in loss of the lock nut and possible loss of the entire pierced earring.

In order to eliminate this problem, various attempts have been made to provide a new locking system for securely mounting pierced earrings in user's ears. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,033, a one-piece earring holding shaft is disclosed, but without the use of any pivoting or moving portions formed thereon. Instead, U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,033 teaches a one-piece earring shaft construction extending from the ornament, and incorporating a combination of angular bends. Although U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,033 teaches a system which eliminates the difficulties presently encountered with lock nuts, this system requires the user to manipulate the earring in a variety of alternative positions, to insert the elongated and peculiarly convoluted shaft into position, with the convoluted portions thereof performing the holding function. Due to the high degree of dexterity and unnatural manipulated movements required in order to completely insert the construction taught by U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,033, this construction has not received popular acceptance.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,034, another holding system is taught for a pierced earring wherein two or more pendants are required and are supported by nylon filaments connected to a cylindrically-shaped toggle. The independent toggle is inserted through the pierced ear and, when one of the pendants is pulled, assumes a locking position. When removal is required, the pendant connected to the terminating end of the toggle is pulled, aligning the toggle for removal through the pierced ear. This system is extremely limited in that it requires the use of flexible filaments which are positioned in the ear when the earring is worn. This is generally undesirable and unwanted by users. Furthermore, the dual-pendant construction that is required to properly operate the toggle is extremely limiting and prevents a pierced earring construction that will accommodate the majority of present day pierced earring designs.

To address these shortcomings in the prior art, the inventor previously devised a pierced earring locking and holding system described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,804. An example of the system 90 is shown in FIGS. 9A-9C, which incorporates a shaft 91 having a suitable recess formed therein for accommodating a portion of bar 92 when the bar 92 is pivoted into position with its longitudinal axis substantially coincident with the central axis of shaft 91. When locking bar 92 is pivoted into this position, as shown in FIG. 9B, holding system 90 forms a substantially continuous elongated shaft. The earring holding system 90 is mounted to ring 100, or any other design structure, in the conventional manner, as shown in FIG. 9A. In FIG. 9B, the pierced earring holding system 90 is shown being advanced towards a pierced ear 105 in which a channel has been formed. With locking bar 92 pivoted into its aligned position, pierced earring holding system 90 assumes the shape of a continuous straight elongated shaft, which is inserted into the channel of ear 105. Once the system 90 has been fully inserted into the user's ear, shaft 91 of holding system 90 is located within the channel of ear 105, as shown in FIG. 9C. When in this position, the user can pivot locking bar 92 from its axially aligned position into its locking position, wherein the longitudinal axis of locking bar 92 is substantially perpendicular to the axis of shaft 91. However, this system itself suffers drawbacks, as the locking member can freely rotate between locked and unlocked positions, creating an increased risk of the locking member falling out of position and leaving the user's ear.

As is apparent from this review of prior art pierced earring holding systems, there is a long-felt need, which is yet satisfied, for a pierced earring holding system which is easily employed by the user without requiring uncomfortable and unnatural manipulative movements of the earring during the insertion process, and securely locked in position without fear of loss of any locking portion or of the earring itself, without shifting into an unlocked position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application addresses these shortcomings in the art by providing a pierced earring holding and locking system which is easily employed by the user, and securely retains the locking system in both the locked and unlocked configurations by providing an engagement mechanism in the body of the locking system, such as a spring or interlocking surface projections and depressions, which makes it more difficult for the locking arm of the system to move from the locked to unlocked configuration, and vice versa.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present application, a locking and holding system for an earring is provided. The system comprises a body section, which may include: a shaft, a pair of arms extending from the shaft, and a recess formed between the pair of arms. The system also includes a locking bar pivotally engaged with the body section and movable between a first position with a longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially parallel to a central axis of the shaft, and a second position with the longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft. The body section and the locking bar are integrally connected at a pivot point about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position. The body section further may include a spring biased towards the locking bar, the spring being compressed by the locking bar when the locking bar is in the first position.

Various implementations of the system according the first aspect of the present application may include one or more of the following features.

The shaft further may include a chamber housing the spring. The body section further may include a cap member disposed on a first end of the spring positioned nearest to the locking bar, wherein the cap member extends into the recess such that it impedes pivoting of the locking bar into the first position when the spring is in a decompressed form. The cap member may include a channel disposed on a surface proximal to the recess, the channel being dimensioned for receiving an edge of the locking bar in the first position. In other embodiments, the cap member may be ball-shaped.

In various embodiments of the system, the shaft may include two intertwining members having spiral forms that spiral in opposite directions and have the chamber formed between them. Each of the intertwining members may have one of the pair of arms affixed at corresponding ends of the intertwining members. The pair of arms also may be integrally formed with intertwining members of the shaft wherein the pair of arms substantially meet at respective distal ends of the pair of arms. The locking bar may include a hole formed therethrough configured to receive the distal ends of the pair of arms to secure the locking bar to the body section, such that the locking bar is configured to pivot about the distal ends of the pair of arms.

In additional or alternative embodiments, each of the arms in the pair of arms and the locking bar the may include a hole formed therethrough configured to receive a pivot pin configured to secure the locking bar to the pair of arms and about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position. Alternatively, one or both of the pair of arms may include a pivot pin formed thereon and extending towards the opposing arm, and the locking bar may include a hole formed therethrough configured to receive the pivot pin to secure the locking bar to the pair of arms and about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position. In a further alternative, each of the arms may include a hole formed therethrough and the locking bar may include a pivot pin arranged thereon configured to be inserted into each of the respective holes on the pair of arms to secure the locking bar to the pair of arms and about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position.

The locking bar may include at least one projecting member arranged on a surface thereof and at least one of the pair of arms may include at least one dimple configured to receive the at least one projecting member when the locking bar is in the first position. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the pair of arms may include at least one projecting member arranged on a surface thereof extending into the recess and the locking bar may include at least one dimple configured to receive the at least one projecting member when the locking bar is in the first position. The body section further may include a base configured to be secured to the earring.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present application, a further locking and holding system for an earring is provided. The system comprises a body section, which may include: a shaft, a pair of arms extending from the shaft, and a recess formed between the pair of arms. The system also includes a locking bar pivotally engaged with the body section and movable between a first position with a longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially parallel to a central axis of the shaft, and a second position with the longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft. The body section and the locking bar are integrally connected at a pivot point about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position. The body section further may include an internal engagement means configured to engage with the locking bar in the first position and impede pivoting of the locking bar from the second position into the first position.

Various implementations of the system according the second aspect of the present application may include one or more of the following features.

In various embodiments of the system, the internal engagement means may include a spring biased towards the locking bar, the spring being compressed by the locking bar when the locking bar is in the first position. The shaft further may include a chamber housing the spring. The body section further may include a cap member disposed on a first end of the spring positioned nearest to the locking bar, where the cap member extends into the recess such that it impedes pivoting of the locking bar into the first position when the spring is in a decompressed form. The cap member may also include a channel disposed on a surface proximal to the recess, the channel being dimensioned for receiving and retaining an edge of the locking bar in the first position.

In additional or alternative embodiments, the internal engagement means at least one of the pair of arms may include at least one projecting member arranged on a surface of extending into the recess and the locking bar may include at least one dimple configured to receive the at least one projecting member when the locking bar is in the first position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A shows a first view of an earring holding system according to a first embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of the earring holding system according to the first embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 1C shows a cross-sectional view of the earring holding system according to the first embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 1D shows an exploded view of the earring holding system according to the first embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2A shows a first view of an earring holding system according to a second embodiment of the present application, in an unlocked position;

FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the earring holding system according to the second embodiment of the present application, in an unlocked position;

FIG. 2C shows a cross-sectional view of the earring holding system according to the second embodiment of the present application, in an unlocked position;

FIG. 2D shows a first view of the earring holding system according to the second embodiment of the present application, in a locked position;

FIG. 2E shows a perspective view of the earring holding system according to the second embodiment of the present application, in a locked position;

FIG. 2F shows a cross-sectional view of the earring holding system according to the second embodiment of the present application, in a locked position;

FIG. 3A shows a first view of an earring holding system according to a third embodiment of the present application, in a locked position;

FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of the earring holding system according to the third embodiment of the present application, in a locked position;

FIG. 3C shows a cross-sectional view of the earring holding system according to the third embodiment of the present application, in a locked position;

FIG. 3D shows a first view of the earring holding system according to the third embodiment of the present application, in an unlocked position;

FIG. 3E shows a perspective view of the earring holding system according to the third embodiment of the present application, in an unlocked position;

FIG. 3F shows a cross-sectional view of the earring holding system according to the third embodiment of the present application, in an unlocked position;

FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of an earring holding system according to a fourth embodiment of the present application, in a locked position;

FIG. 4B shows a top view and a cross-sectional view of a locking bar of an earring holding system according to the fourth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4C shows a side view, a top-end view and a cross-sectional view of a body section of an earring holding system according to the fourth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4D shows a top view and a side view of a pin of an earring holding system according to the fourth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of an earring holding system according to a fifth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5B shows a top view and a side view of a spring of an earring holding system according to the fifth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5C shows a side view of a pin of an earring holding system according to the fifth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5D shows a side view, a top-end view and a cross-sectional view of a body section of an earring holding system according to the fifth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5E shows a top view and a cross-sectional view of a locking bar of an earring holding system according to the fifth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5F shows a side view, a top-end view and a cross-sectional view of a cap of an earring holding system according to the fifth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of an earring holding system according to a sixth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6B shows a top cross-sectional view of an earring holding system according to the sixth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6C shows a side cross-sectional an earring holding system according to a sixth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6D shows an exploded view of the earring holding system according to the sixth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7A shows a perspective view of an earring holding system according to a seventh embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7B shows a top cross-sectional view of an earring holding system according to the seventh embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7C shows a side cross-sectional view of an earring holding system according to the seventh embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7D shows an arm of an earring holding system according to the seventh embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7E shows a top view of a locking bar of an earring holding system according to the seventh embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7F shows a cross-sectional view of a locking bar of an earring holding system according to the seventh embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8A shows a perspective view of an earring holding system according to an eighth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8B shows a top view of an earring holding system according to the eighth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8C shows a side cross-sectional an earring holding system according to the eighth embodiment of the present application; and

FIGS. 9A-9C show an earring and earring holding system according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The earring holding system of the present application will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A-8C.

In FIGS. 1A-1D, a first embodiment of the pierced earring holding system 10 of the present application is shown. The pierced earring holding system 10 is to be mounted or affixed to any conventional earring ornamental design structure (not shown) using any mechanism known in the art, such as soldering, welding or by being formed integrally with the earring structure.

The pierced earring holding system 10 shown in FIGS. 1A-1D incorporates a body section, including a shaft 11 and a plurality of arms 15 having a recess 14 formed between the arms 15, and a locking bar 12 pivotally engaged with the body section to form an integral holding system 10. Locking bar 12 is mounted to the distal end of the body section in between the two arms 15. For example, the arms 15 may have two distal ends 13 a that are configured to engage each other or come into contact or near contact with one another, but are also configured to be separable by pulling one or both arms 15 away from each other. The locking bar 12 includes a hole 13 b formed therethrough and having a larger diameter than the ends 13 a, which enables the locking bar 12 to be inserted onto either of the arms 15 when the arms 15 are separated, and is secured to the arms 15 when the arms 15 are reconnected.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, the locking bar 12 comprises smoothly rounded or tapered edges and a thickness which is sufficiently less than the width of the recess 14 to allow pivoting ease of locking bar 12 in at least a 90° rotation between a locked arrangement in which it is perpendicular to the shaft 11 (FIGS. 1A-1C) for securing the system 10 to an ear, and an unlocked arrangement in which it is parallel to the shaft 11 (FIG. 1D) for removing the system 10 from an ear. With this construction, locking bar 12 is capable of arcuate movement of at least 90° and up to 360° about the axis defined by the hole 13 b, as well as being smoothly constructed for ease of insertion and removal from a pierced ear (not shown).

In the pierced earring holding system 10, the shaft 11 comprises a twisted body section 18 a, which may be formed of two interlocking members that spiral or twist in opposite directions allowing them to interlock in their assembly, each member terminating at one end as one of the two arms 15 and affixed at the other end to the base 19 of the pierced earring holding system 10. The twisted body section 18 a can alternatively be formed of one tightly wound, coiling member. The base 19 is affixed to an earring (not shown) as previously described. A hollow chamber 18 b is formed within the shaft 11.

The pierced earring holding system 10 further comprises a biasing mechanism 16, such as a coil spring 16, that is located in the chamber 18 b of the shaft 11. The end of the spring 16 that is closest to the arms 15 may be secured to or adjacent to a base 17 c of a cap 17 a that is biased by the spring 16 towards the arms 15 and locking bar 12. The cap 17 a is biased into the recess 14. When the locking bar 12 is turned from the locked to the unlocked position, an end of the locking bar 12 abuts the cap 17 a, impeding rotation of the locking bar 12 unless additional force is applied by the user to push the locking bar 12 into a parallel formation with the arms 15. This arrangement makes it more difficult for the locking bar 12 to be moved from the locked configuration into the unlocked configuration. The cap 17 a may include a channel 17 b on the upper surface that extends into recess 14. When the locking bar 12 is pushed towards the cap 17 a, the locking bar 12, an edge of the locking bar 12 enters the channel 17 b and pushes the cap 17 a downward, compressing the spring 16. The spring 16 remains biased towards the arms 15, and when the locking bar 12 is moved back towards the locked configuration, the spring 16 pushes the cap 17 a towards the arms 15 and back into the recess 14.

In FIGS. 2A-2F, a second embodiment of a pierced earring holding system of 20 of the present application is shown. The pierced earring holding system 20 is to be mounted or affixed to any conventional earring ornamental design structure (not shown) using any mechanism known in the art, such as soldering, welding, or by being formed integrally with the earring structure.

The pierced earring holding system 20 shown in FIGS. 2A-2F incorporates a body section, including a shaft 21 and a plurality of arms 25 having a recess 24 formed between the arms 25, and a locking bar 22 a pivotally engaged with the body section to form an integral holding system 20. Locking bar 22 a is mounted to the distal end of the body section in between the two arms 25. For example, each arm 25 may have an opening or hole therethrough configured to receive a pin 23 that may be affixed to the arms 25. Alternatively, one or both of the arms 25 may have a pin or portion of a pin structure formed in the center that are configured to engage each other or come into contact or near contact with one another, but are also configured to be separable by pulling one or both arms 25 away from each other. The locking bar 22 a includes a hole formed therethrough and having a larger diameter than the pin 23, which enables the pin 23 to be inserted through locking bar 22 a to secure the locking bar 22 a to the arms 25.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A-2F, the locking bar 22 a comprises smoothly rounded or tapered edges and a thickness which is sufficiently less than the width of the recess 24 to allow pivoting ease of locking bar 22 a in at least a 90° rotation between a locked arrangement in which it is perpendicular to the shaft 21 (FIGS. 2D-2F) for securing the system 20 to an ear, and an unlocked arrangement in which it is parallel to the shaft 21 (FIGS. 2A-2C) for removing the system 20 from an ear. With this construction, locking bar 22 a is capable of arcuate movement of at least 90° and up to 360° about the axis defined by the pin 23, as well as being smoothly constructed for ease of insertion and removal from a pierced ear (not shown). In the pierced earring holding system 20, the shaft 21 comprises a twisted body section 28 a, which may be formed of two interlocking members that twist or spiral in opposite directions allowing them to intertwine in their assembly, each member terminating at one end as one of the two arms 25 and affixed at the other end to the base 29 of the pierced earring holding system 20. The twisted body section 28 a can alternatively be formed of one tightly wound, coiling member. The base 29 is affixed to an earring (not shown) as previously described. A hollow chamber 28 b is formed within the shaft 21.

The pierced earring holding system 20 further comprises a biasing mechanism 26, such as a coil spring 26, that is located in the chamber 28 b of the shaft 21. The end of the spring 26 that is closes to the arms 25 may be secured to or adjacent to a cap 27 that is biased by the spring 26 towards the arms 25 and locking bar 22 a. The cap 27 is biased into the recess 24, and may comprise a base and channel similar to that described above with respect to the cap 17 a of FIGS. 1A-1D. When the locking bar 22 a is turned from the locked to the unlocked position, an end of the locking bar 22 a abuts the cap 27, impeding rotation of the locking bar 22 a unless additional force is applied by the user to push the locking bar 22 a into a parallel formation with the arms 25. This arrangement makes it more difficult for the locking bar 22 a to be moved from the locked configuration into the unlocked configuration. When the locking bar 22 a is pushed towards the cap 27, an edge of the locking bar 22 a pushes the cap 27 downward, compressing the spring 26. The spring 26 remains biased towards the arms 25, and when the locking bar 22 a is moved back towards the locked configuration, the spring 26 pushes the cap 27 towards the arms 25 and back into the recess 24.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A-2F, the locking bar 22 a further comprises one or more dimples 22 b on the surface. The locking bar 22 a may further abut against one or more projecting members or bumps disposed on the underside of the arms 25 when the locking bar 22 a is rotated from the locked to the unlocked position, requiring further force by the user to turn the locking bar into the unlocked configuration. Additionally, when the locking bar 22 a is pushed into the locked configuration, the dimples 22 b may be engaged with the one or more projecting members or bumps (not shown) on an undersurface of the arms 25, which assist in locking the locking bar 22 a in the unlocked configuration, and require the user to apply additional force to move the locking bar 22 a out of the unlocked configuration. In alternative embodiments, the dimples may be arranged on the arm and the locking bar may include surface projections.

In FIGS. 3A-3F, a third embodiment of a pierced earring holding system of 30 of the present application is shown. The pierced earring holding system 30 is to be mounted or affixed to any conventional earring ornamental design structure (not shown) using any mechanism known in the art, such as soldering, welding, or by being formed integrally with the earring structure.

The pierced earring holding system 30 shown in FIGS. 3A-3F incorporates a body section, including a shaft 31 and a plurality of arms 35 having a recess 34 formed between the arms 35, and a locking bar 32 pivotally engaged with the body section to form an integral holding system 30. Locking bar 32 is mounted to the distal end of the body section in between the two arms 35. For example, each arm 35 may have an opening 33 b therethrough configured to receive a pin 33 a that may be affixed to the arms 35. Alternatively, one or both of the arms 35 may have a pin or portion of a pin structure formed in the center that are configured to engage each other or come into contact or near contact with one another, but are also configured to be separable by pulling one or both arms 35 away from each other. The locking bar 32 includes a hole 33 c formed therethrough and having a larger diameter than the pin 33 a, which enables the pin 33 a to be inserted through locking bar 32 to secure the locking bar 32 to the arms 35.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A-3F, the locking bar 32 comprises smoothly rounded or tapered edges and a thickness which is sufficiently less than the width of the recess 34 to allow pivoting ease of locking bar 32 in at least a 90° rotation between a locked arrangement in which it is perpendicular to the shaft 31 (FIGS. 3A-3C) for securing the system 30 to an ear, and an unlocked arrangement in which it is parallel to the shaft 31 (FIGS. 3D-3F) for removing the system 30 from an ear. With this construction, locking bar 32 is capable of arcuate movement of at least 90° and up to 360° about the axis defined by the pin 33 a, as well as being smoothly constructed for ease of insertion and removal from a pierced ear (not shown).

In the embodiment of the pierced earring holding system 30 shown in FIGS. 3A-3F, the shaft 31 comprises a hollow chamber 38 formed therein. The pierced earring holding system 30 further comprises a biasing mechanism 36, such as a coil spring 36, that is located in the chamber 38 of the shaft 31. The end of the spring 36 that is closest to the arms 35 may be secured to or adjacent to a cap 37 that is biased by the spring 36 towards the arms 35 and locking bar 32. The cap 37 is biased into the recess 34, and may comprise a base and channel similar to that described above with respect to the cap 17 a of FIGS. 1A-1D. When the locking bar 32 is turned from the locked to the unlocked position, an end of the locking bar 32 abuts the cap 37, impeding rotation of the locking bar 32 unless additional force is applied by the user to push the locking bar 32 into a parallel formation with the arms 35. This arrangement makes it more difficult for the locking bar 32 to be moved from the locked configuration into the unlocked configuration. When the locking bar 32 is pushed towards the cap 37, an edge of the locking bar 32 pushes the cap 37 downward, compressing the spring 36. The spring 36 remains biased towards the arms 35, and when the locking bar 32 is moved back towards the locked configuration, the spring 36 pushes the cap 37 towards the arms 35 and back into the recess 34. A base 39 of the earring holding system 30 is affixed to an earring (not shown) as previously described.

In FIG. 4A, a fourth embodiment of a pierced earring holding system 40 of the present application is shown. The pierced earring holding system 40 is to be mounted or affixed to any conventional earring ornamental design structure (not shown) using any mechanism known in the art, such as soldering, welding, or by being formed integrally with the earring structure. Various components of the pierced earring holding system 40 are also shown in greater detail, including locking bar 42 (FIG. 4B), shaft 41 (FIG. 4C), and pin 43 a (FIG. 4D). The components shown in FIGS. 4B-4D may be the same or similar to those that are included in other embodiments described and shown herein.

The pierced earring holding system 40 incorporates a body section, including a shaft 41 and a plurality of arms 45 having a recess 44 formed between the arms 45, and a locking bar 42 pivotally engaged with the body section to form an integral holding system 40. Locking bar 42 is mounted to the distal end of the body section in between the two arms 45. For example, each arm 45 may have an hole 43 b therethrough configured to receive a pin 43 a that may be affixed to the arms 45. Alternatively, one or both of the arms 45 may have a pin or portion of a pin structure formed in the center that are configured to engage each other or come into contact or near contact with one another, but are also configured to be separable by pulling one or both arms 45 away from each other. The locking bar 42 includes a hole 43 c formed therethrough and having a larger diameter than the pin 43 a, which enables the pin 43 a to be inserted through locking bar 42 to secure the locking bar 42 to the arms 45. The pin 43 a and holes 43 b, 43 c may each have a diameter of approximately 0.0185 mm.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, the locking bar 42 comprises smoothly rounded or tapered edges and a thickness which is sufficiently less than the width of the recess 44 to allow pivoting ease of locking bar 42 in at least a 90° rotation between a locked arrangement in which it is perpendicular to the shaft 41 for securing the system 40 to an ear, and an unlocked arrangement in which it is parallel to the shaft 41 for removing the system 40 from an ear. With this construction, locking bar 42 is capable of arcuate movement of at least 90° and up to 460° about the axis defined by the pin 43 a, as well as being smoothly constructed for ease of insertion and removal from a pierced ear (not shown).

In the pierced earring holding system 40 shown in FIG. 4A, the shaft 41 comprises a hollow chamber 48 formed therein. The pierced earring holding system 40 further comprises a biasing mechanism 46, such as a coil spring 46, that is located in the chamber 48 of the shaft 41. The end of the spring 46 that is closest to the arms 45 may be secured to or adjacent to a cap 47 that is biased by the spring 46 towards the arms 45 and locking bar 42. The cap 47 is biased into the recess 44, and may comprise a base and channel similar to that described above with respect to the cap 17 a of FIGS. 1A-1D. When the locking bar 42 is turned from the locked to the unlocked position, an end of the locking bar 42 abuts the cap 47, impeding rotation of the locking bar 42 unless additional force is applied by the user to push the locking bar 42 into a parallel formation with the arms 45. This arrangement makes it more difficult for the locking bar 42 to be moved from the locked configuration into the unlocked configuration. When the locking bar 42 is pushed towards the cap 47, an edge of the locking bar 42 pushes the cap 47 downward, compressing the spring 46. The spring 46 remains biased towards the arms 45, and when the locking bar 42 is moved back towards the locked configuration, the spring 46 pushes the cap 47 towards the arms 45 and back into the recess 44. A base 49 of the earring holding system 40 is affixed to an earring (not shown) as previously described.

In FIG. 5A, a fifth embodiment of a pierced earring holding system 50 of the present application is shown. The pierced earring holding system 50 is to be mounted or affixed to any conventional earring ornamental design structure (not shown) using any mechanism known in the art, such as soldering, welding, or by being formed integrally with the earring structure. Various components of the pierced earring holding system 50 are also shown in greater detail, including spring 56 (FIG. 5B), pin 53 a (FIG. 5C), shaft 51 (FIG. 5D), locking bar 52 (FIG. 5E), and cap 57 a (FIG. 5F). The components shown in FIGS. 5B-5F may be the same or similar to those that are included in other embodiments described and shown herein.

The pierced earring holding system 50 incorporates a body section, including a shaft 51 and a plurality of arms 55 having a recess 54 formed between the arms 55, and a locking bar 52 pivotally engaged with the body section to form an integral holding system 50. Locking bar 52 is mounted to the distal end of the body section in between the two arms 55. For example, each arm 55 may have an opening 53 b therethrough configured to receive a pin 53 a that may be affixed to the arms 55. Alternatively, one or both of the arms 55 may have a pin or portion of a pin structure formed in the center that are configured to engage each other or come into contact or near contact with one another, but are also configured to be separable by pulling one or both arms 55 away from each other. The locking bar 52 includes a hole 53 c formed therethrough and having a larger diameter than the pin 53 a, which enables the pin 53 a to be inserted through locking bar 52 to secure the locking bar 52 to the arms 55. The pin 53 a may have a diameter of approximately 1/64 inches and length of approximately 0.0455 inches.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, the locking bar 52 comprises smoothly rounded or tapered edges and a thickness which is sufficiently less than the width of the recess 54 to allow pivoting ease of locking bar 52 in at least a 90° rotation between a locked arrangement in which it is perpendicular to the shaft 51 for securing the system 50 to an ear, and an unlocked arrangement in which it is parallel to the shaft 51 for removing the system 50 from an ear. With this construction, locking bar 52 is capable of arcuate movement of at least 90° and up to 360° about the axis defined by the pin 53 a, as well as being smoothly constructed for ease of insertion and removal from a pierced ear (not shown).

In the pierced earring holding system 50 shown in FIG. 5A, the shaft 51 comprises a hollow chamber 58 formed therein. The pierced earring holding system 50 further comprises a biasing mechanism 56, such as a coil spring 56, that is located in the chamber 58 of the shaft 51. The spring 56 may have a diameter of approximately 0.0033 inches and length of approximately 0.1095 inches. The end of the spring 56 that is closest to the arms 55 may be secured to or adjacent to a cap 57 a that is biased by the spring 56 towards the arms 55 and locking bar 52. The cap 57 a is biased into the recess 54, and may comprise a base 57 c and channel 57 b similar to that described above with respect to the cap 17 a of FIGS. 1A-1D. When the locking bar 52 is turned from the locked to the unlocked position, an end of the locking bar 52 abuts the cap 57 a, impeding rotation of the locking bar 52 unless additional force is applied by the user to push the locking bar 52 into a parallel formation with the arms 55. This arrangement makes it more difficult for the locking bar 52 to be moved from the locked configuration into the unlocked configuration. When the locking bar 52 is pushed towards the cap 57 a, an edge of the locking bar 52 pushes the cap 57 a downward, compressing the spring 56. The spring 56 remains biased towards the arms 55, and when the locking bar 52 is moved back towards the locked configuration, the spring 56 pushes the cap 57 a towards the arms 55 and back into the recess 54. A base 59 of the earring holding system 50 is affixed to an earring (not shown) as previously described.

In FIGS. 6A-6D, a sixth embodiment of a pierced earring holding system 60 of the present application is shown. The pierced earring holding system 60 is to be mounted or affixed to any conventional earring ornamental design structure (not shown) using any mechanism known in the art, such as soldering, welding or by being formed integrally with the earring structure. The components shown in the exploded view of FIG. 6D may be the same or similar to those that are included in other embodiments described and shown herein.

The pierced earring holding system 60 incorporates a body section, including a shaft 61 and a plurality of arms 65 having a recess 64 formed between the arms 65, and a locking bar 62 pivotally engaged with the body section to form an integral holding system 60. Locking bar 62 is mounted to the distal end of the body section in between the two arms 65. For example, each arm 65 may have an opening 63 b therethrough configured to receive a pin 63 a that may be affixed to the arms 65. Alternatively, one or both of the arms 65 may have a pin or portion of a pin structure formed in the center that are configured to engage each other or come into contact or near contact with one another, but are also configured to be separable by pulling one or both arms 65 away from each other. The locking bar 62 includes a hole 63 c formed therethrough and having a larger diameter than the pin 63 a, which enables the pin 63 a to be inserted through locking bar 62 to secure the locking bar 62 to the arms 65.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A-6D, the locking bar 62 comprises smoothly rounded or tapered edges and a thickness which is sufficiently less than the width of the recess 64 to allow pivoting ease of locking bar 62 in at least a 90° rotation between a locked arrangement in which it is perpendicular to the shaft 61 for securing the system 60 to an ear, and an unlocked arrangement in which it is parallel to the shaft 61 for removing the system 60 from an ear. With this construction, locking bar 62 is capable of arcuate movement of at least 90° and up to 660° about the axis defined by the pin 63 a, as well as being smooth constructed for ease of insertion and removal from a pierced ear (not shown).

In the pierced earring holding system 60 shown in FIGS. 6A-6D, the shaft 61 comprises a hollow chamber 68 formed therein. The pierced earring holding system 60 further comprises a biasing mechanism 66, such as a coil spring 66, that is located in the chamber 68 of the shaft 61. The end of the spring 66 that is closes to the arms 65 may be secured to or adjacent to a cap 67 a that is biased by the spring 66 towards the arms 65 and locking bar 62. The cap 67 a is biased into the recess 64, and may comprise a base 67 c and channel 67 b similar to that described above with respect to the cap 17 a of FIGS. 1A-1D. When the locking bar 62 is turned from the locked to the unlocked position, an end of the locking bar 62 abuts the cap 67 a, impeding rotation of the locking bar 62 unless additional force is applied by the user to push the locking bar 62 into a parallel formation with the arms 65. This arrangement makes it more difficult for the locking bar 62 to be moved from the locked configuration into the unlocked configuration. When the locking bar 62 is pushed towards the cap 67 a, the locking bar 62, an edge of the locking bar 62 pushes the cap 67 a downward, compressing the spring 66. The spring 66 remains biased towards the arms 65, and when the locking bar 62 is moved back towards the locked configuration, the spring 66 pushes the cap 67 a towards the arms 65 and back into the recess 64. A base 69 of the earring holding system 60 is affixed to an earring (not shown) as previously described.

In FIGS. 7A-7C, a seventh embodiment of a pierced earring holding system of 70 of the present application is shown. The pierced earring holding system of 70 is similar to that shown and described in FIGS. 2A-2F, except it does not include a spring or biasing mechanism. The pierced earring holding system 70 is to be mounted or affixed to any conventional earring ornamental design structure (not shown) using any mechanism known in the art, such as soldering, welding or by being formed integrally with the earring structure.

The pierced earring holding system 70 shown in FIGS. 7A-7C incorporates a body section, including a shaft 71 and a plurality of arms 75 a having a recess 74 formed between the arms 75 a, and a locking bar 72 a pivotally engaged with the body section to form an integral holding system 70. Locking bar 72 a is mounted to the distal end of the body section in between the two arms 75 a. For example, each arm 75 a may have an opening 75 c therethrough configured to receive a pin 73 that may be affixed to the arms 75 a. Alternatively, one or both of the arms 75 a may have a pin or portion of a pin structure formed in the center that are configured to engage each other or come into contact or near contact with one another, but are also configured to be separable by pulling one or both arms 75 a away from each other. The locking bar 72 a includes a hole 72 c formed therethrough and having a larger diameter than the pin 73, which enables the pin 73 to be inserted through locking bar 72 a to secure the locking bar 72 a to the arms 75 a.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A-7C, the locking bar 72 a comprises smoothly rounded or tapered edges and a thickness which is sufficiently less than the width of the recess 74 to allow pivoting ease of locking bar 72 a in at least a 90° rotation between a locked arrangement in which it is perpendicular to the shaft 71 for securing the system 70 to an ear, and an unlocked arrangement in which it is parallel to the shaft 71 for removing the system 70 from an ear. With this construction, locking bar 72 a is capable of arcuate movement of at least 90° and up to 360° about the axis defined by the pin 73, as well as being smoothly constructed for ease of insertion and removal from a pierced ear (not shown).

In the pierced earring holding system 70, the shaft 71 comprises a twisted body section, which may be formed of two interlocking members 78, shown for example in FIG. 7D, that twist or spiral in opposite directions allowing them to intertwine in their assembly, each member 78 terminating at one end as one of the two arms 75 a and affixed at the other end to the base 79 of the pierced earring holding system 70. The twisted body section can alternatively be formed of one tightly wound, coiling member. The base 79 is affixed to an earring (not shown) as previously described.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A-7C, the locking bar 72 a further comprises one or more dimples on the surface. The locking bar 72 a may further abut against one or more projecting members or bumps 75 b on the arms 75 a when the locking bar 72 a is rotated from the locked to the unlocked position, requiring further force by the user to turn the locking bar into the unlocked configuration. Additionally, when the locking bar 72 a is pushed into the locked configuration, the dimples 72 b may be engaged with the one or more projecting members or bumps 75 b on an undersurface of the arms 75 a, which assist in locking the locking bar 72 a in the unlocked configuration, and require the user to apply additional force to move the locking bar 72 a out of the unlocked configuration. In alternative embodiments, the dimples may be arranged on the arm and the locking bar may include surface projections.

In FIGS. 8A-8C, an eighth embodiment of a pierced earring holding system of 80 of the present application is shown. The pierced earring holding system 80 is to be mounted or affixed at its base 89 to any conventional earring ornamental design structure (not shown) using any mechanism known in the art, such as soldering, welding or by being formed integrally with the earring structure.

The pierced earring holding system 80 shown in FIGS. 8A-8C incorporates a body section, including a shaft 81 and a plurality of arms 85 having a recess 84 formed between the arms 85, and a locking bar 82 pivotally engaged with the body section to form an integral holding system 80. Locking bar 82 is mounted to the distal end of the body section in between the two arms 85. For example, each arm 85 may have an opening 83 b therethrough configured to receive a pin 83 a that may be affixed to the arms 85. Alternatively, one or both of the arms 85 may have a pin or portion of a pin structure formed in the center that are configured to engage each other or come into contact or near contact with one another, but are also configured to be separable by pulling one or both arms 85 away from each other. The locking bar 82 includes a hole formed therethrough and having a larger diameter than the pin 83 a, which enables the pin 83 a to be inserted through locking bar 82 to secure the locking bar 82 to the arms 85.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A-8C, the locking bar 82 comprises smoothly rounded or tapered edges and a thickness which is sufficiently less than the width of the recess 84 to allow pivoting ease of locking bar 82 in at least a 90° rotation between a locked arrangement in which it is perpendicular to the shaft 81 for securing the system 80 to an ear, and an unlocked arrangement in which it is parallel to the shaft 81 for removing the system 80 from an ear. With this construction, locking bar 82 is capable of arcuate movement of at least 90° and up to 360° about the axis defined by the pin 83 a, as well as being smoothly constructed for ease of insertion and removal from a pierced ear (not shown).

It is noted that the various features and elements described in the systems 10 through 80 described above may be used in various combinations other than the exact combinations shown without departing from the scope of the present application.

The Figures also identify several, non-limiting and approximate dimensions of the systems which are identified below in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Ref. Numeral Dimension Θ 90° D₁ (spring decompressed) 0.130 in. D₂ (spring decompressed) 0.130 in. D₃ (spring compressed) 0.113 in. D₄ 0.017 in. D₅ (spring compressed) 0.113 in. D₆ 0.017 in. D₇ 0.0105 mm D₈ 0.1222 mm D₉ 0.022 mm D₁₀ 0.2445 mm D₁₁ 0.042 mm D₁₂ 0.0212 mm D₁₃ 0.193 mm D₁₄ 0.2255 mm D₁₅ 0.0115 mm D₁₆ 0.195 mm D₁₇ 0.044 mm D₁₈ 0.0425 mm D₁₉ 0.26275 in. D₂₀ 0.033375 in. D₂₁ 0.10905 in. D₂₂ 0.1557 in. D₂₃ 0.0176 in. D₂₄ 0.02225 in. D₂₅ 0.020430 in. D₂₆ 0.03125 in. D₂₇ 0.081833 in. D₂₈ 0.040917 in D₂₉ 0.163666 in. D₃₀ 0.040917 in. D₃₁ 0.0161 in. D₃₂ 0.0156 in. D₃₃ 0.017 in. D₃₄ 0.0115 in. D₃₅ 0.0055 in. D₃₆ 0.036 in. D₃₇ 0.04 in. D₃₈ 0.03535 in.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices and methods described may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. 

What is claimed:
 1. A locking and holding system for an earring comprising: a body section comprising: a shaft comprising two twisted interlocking members and having a cylindrical shape; a pair of arms, each of the pair of arms extending from a respective one of the two twisted interlocking members of the shaft; and a recess formed between the pair of arms; and a locking bar pivotally engaged with the body section and movable between a first position with a longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially parallel to a central axis of the shaft, and a second position with the longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft; wherein the body section and the locking bar are integrally connected at a pivot point about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position; and wherein the body section further comprises a spring biased towards the locking bar, the spring being compressed by the locking bar when the locking bar is in the first position.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the shaft further comprises a chamber housing the spring.
 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the body section further comprises a cap member disposed on a first end of the spring positioned nearest to the locking bar, wherein the cap member extends into the recess such that it impedes pivoting of the locking bar into the first position when the spring is in a decompressed form.
 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the cap member comprises a channel disposed on a surface proximal to the recess, the channel being dimensioned for receiving an edge of the locking bar in the first position.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the two intertwining members of the shaft are opposing ends of a single coiling member that is wound into the cylindrical shape.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pair of arms are integrally formed with intertwining members of the shaft; wherein the pair of arms contact each other at distal ends of the pair of arms; and wherein the locking bar comprises a hole formed therethrough configured to fit over each of the pair of arms to secure the locking bar to the body section, such that the locking bar is configured to pivot about the distal ends of the pair of arms. 7.-13. (canceled)
 14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the body section further comprises a base configured to be secured to the earring.
 15. A locking and holding system for an earring comprising: a body section comprising: a shaft comprising two twisted interlocking members and having a cylindrical shape; a pair of arms, each of the pair of arms extending from a respective one of the two twisted interlocking members of the shaft; and a recess formed between the pair of arms; and a locking bar pivotally engaged with the body section and movable between a first position with a longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially parallel to a central axis of the shaft, and a second position with the longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft; wherein the body section and the locking bar are integrally connected at a pivot point about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position; and wherein the body section further comprises an internal engagement means configured to engage with the locking bar in the first position and impede pivoting of the locking bar from the second position into the first position.
 16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the internal engagement means comprises a spring biased towards the locking bar, the spring being compressed by the locking bar when the locking bar is in the first position, and wherein the shaft further comprises a chamber housing the spring.
 17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the body section further comprises a cap member disposed on a first end of the spring positioned nearest to the locking bar, wherein the cap member extends into the recess such that it impedes pivoting of the locking bar into the first position when the spring is in a decompressed form.
 18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the cap member comprises a channel disposed on a surface proximal to the recess, the channel being dimensioned for receiving and retaining an edge of the locking bar in the first position. 19-20. (canceled)
 21. The system according to claim 15, wherein the two intertwining members of the shaft are opposing ends of a single coiling member that is wound into the cylindrical shape.
 22. The system according to claim 15, wherein the pair of arms are integrally formed with intertwining members of the shaft; wherein the pair of arms contact each other at distal ends of the pair of arms; and wherein the locking bar comprises a hole formed therethrough configured to fit over each of the pair of arms to secure the locking bar to the body section, such that the locking bar is configured to pivot about the distal ends of the pair of arms. 